Emergency Contraception (EC)/Plan B

Emergency
contraception (EC) contains hormones found in birth control pills. EC
can help prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse, but it should
not be used as a substitute for regular birth control methods. In
addition, emergency contraception cannot protect you from sexually
transmitted infections (STIs). Emergency contraception can be used
after condoms break, in cases of sexual assault, or any time
unprotected sexual intercourse occurs.

EC is now available over the counter!

Plan B (a brand of emergency contraception) recently
obtained FDA approval for over the counter use for women above the age
of 17. In keeping with current FDA guidelines, the Student Health
Center will be offering Plan B over the counter. Plan B will be available for all students who are 17 years of age or
older. If you need Plan B, please come to the front desk of the
Student Health Center with your student ID and proof of age. The cost
for the medication is $35.00 and no physician visit is required. If you
are under 17, a prescription for Plan B is required to obtain.

Is EC Right For You?

When sex occurs without using any birth control, the
risk of becoming pregnant depends on where you are in your menstrual
cycle. During your most fertile days, midway between two menstrual
periods, the risk could be as high as 30%. With EC, your chance of
becoming pregnant is reduced by 75-89%*
if you take it within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. ECs are NOT
100% effective. Women who are pregnant should not take EC. There is a
risk that ECs might harm a fetus if you do get pregnant. So far, babies
born to women who used ECs have not had a higher rate of birth defects.

When to take EC:

EC is effective within 120 hours of having
unprotected sex, not just the morning after. However, they are more
effective the sooner you take them after unprotected sex. That means
if you had unprotected sex on Friday night, you could use ECs up until
Wednesday night, but starting them sooner would be best.

EC is not 100% effective, so you could still get
pregnant while using them. If you become pregnant and would not
consider terminating the pregnancy, you need to think about the risks
and benefits of EC. The benefit, of course, is you could prevent a
pregnancy. The risk is that the drugs in EC might harm the fetus if you
do get pregnant. However, so far, babies born to women who used EC
have not had a higher rate of birth defects. If you know you absolutely
do not want to be pregnant and you would consider terminating the
pregnancy, EC would be a good option for you.

The Method

The most effective type of Emergency Contraceptive Pill is called Plan
B. This treatment involves taking a specific dose of hormone pills
within 120 hours after sex, which may be given all at once, or in
divided doses 12 hours apart (as described in the FDA-approved package
directions). Plan B works by interfering with fertilization or changing
the lining of the uterus and making it unlikely for a fertilized egg to
implant. EC does not cause abortion. Abortion is defined as the
termination of pregnancy. In clinical terms, a woman is pregnant only
after the fertilized egg has implanted in the uterine lining.

Are there side effects?

EC can cause nausea and/or vomiting. Less common
temporary side effects of EC are headache, cramping, breast tenderness,
irregular bleeding, dizziness, and fluid retention. Most women can
safely use ECs. Women who have abdominal pain, chest or leg pain,
severe headache or vision problems should contact the Student Health
Center or the Emergency Room immediately.

The following are contraindications to the use of progestin only (Plan B) ECs:

Known or suspected pregnancy

Hypersensitivity to the drug

Known allergies to the drug

Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding

Regular Contraception

Emergency Contraceptive is not intended for use as an
individual’s only means of birth control. As soon as you possibly can,
begin using a method of birth control you will be able to use every
time you have sex. We suggest you schedule a follow-up annual GYN exam
with us so we can explore this issue with you. If you want to resume
use of birth control pills after taking EC, consult your health care
provider.

STIs

Since you have had unprotected sex, we strongly
recommend that you get screened for sexually transmitted infections
(this screening can be done during your annual GYN exam). You can help
to protect yourself against AIDS and other STIs, as well as against
pregnancy, by using condoms every time you have sex.

Cost

If you are over age 17, please come to the front desk
of the Student Health Center with your student ID and proof of age. The cost for the medication is $35.00 and no physician visit is
required.